Tag Archives: Caley

Terrors set for Caley clash

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Monday night sees Dundee United host Highland outfit Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Tannadice Park looking to continue their fine form in the Scottish Premier League (Dundee United 8/11, draw 11/4, Inverness 7/2).

The Terrors have not tasted defeat in the league in their last five outings, as they have managed to climb the table into 6th spot, with the club closing in on St Johnstone in fourth.

United’s fine displays in recent weeks have not gone unnoticed, as winger Gary MacKay-Steven was awarded the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month for February. The 21-year-old has impressed many at Tannadice since his move from Airdrie United and the Scotland under-21 star has been a key figure in helping Dundee on their recent unbeaten run.

MacKay-Steven will be a potent attacking threat on Monday night and the Inverness defense will have to be wary of the danger he poses down the flanks.

United boss Peter Houston will be delighted with the winger’s input, as the club secured 10 points from a possible 12 last month. The manager has seen his side score six goals in their last two outings, with victories over Kilmarnock and Hearts coming with relative ease.

Striker Jon Daly remains the SPL’s second-highest goalscorer behind Celtic’s goal machine Gary Hooper, having bagged 14 goals in the top flight north of the border. The skipper has really led from the front this season and could be a decent bet for first goalscorer on Monday night (Daly 7/2 first goalscorer).

Dundee have also been impressive with their performances at the back, as they only conceded one goal in February having scored 11 at the other end. It looks like Inverness will have their work cut out for them when they make the trip from the gateway to the Highlands to central Lowlands having gone four games without a win.

Manager Terry Butcher saw his side thumped by an out-of-form Rangers side 4-1 in their last game at the Caledonian Stadium last weekend. Caley will be starting to look over their shoulder at the teams below them, with just Hibernian and Dunfermline propping up the table.

Butcher slammed his side’s performance against the defending SPL champions in their last outing and will be demanding much more for Monday’s clash with United.

Goals have been hard to come by for Inverness, as they have failed to score more than one goal in an SPL game since Christmas Eve. Andrew Shinnie and Gregory Tade (9/1 first goalscorer) both have eight goals to their name this season and Butcher will be looking to the duo for inspiration at Tannadice.

Eight points stand between Inverness and the bottom of the table but Caley do have three games in hand over Dunfermline. ICT will be desperate to make those extra games count but they might have to wait a little longer for a win, as Dundee are full of confidence at the moment and should have enough to secure the home win.

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Hibs out to sting Caley Thistle

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While much of the nation’s attention will understandably be on the Old Firm on Wednesday, there’s also a relegation battle between Hibernian and Inverness in Scotland which could be just as significant come the end of the season, and both teams will be going all out to claim what could be three vital points (Hibs 13/10, draw 9/4, Inverness 21/10).

After strong campaigns last term, both clubs have struggled this time around and now find themselves 10th and 11th respectively in the table with only lowly Dunfermline below them.

Hibs have been hugely disappointing as many believed they could possibly go on to trouble Celtic and Rangers this year due to the strong mix of youth and experience in their squad.

However, they have struggled for consistency, especially in defence where barely a week goes by without them conceding a calamitous goal and they are currently on a run of seven games without a victory.

One look at their squad and you start to believe that is only a matter of time before they start to climb the table and their forward line of Garry O’Connor (11/8 to score at anytime) and Leigh Griffiths (also 11/8 to score at anytime) should be good enough to trouble even the meanest defences in the SPL.

Both players possess superb strength and have been in good form this season with O’Connor netting seven while Griffiths has scored four. These two could make the difference on Wednesday so look out for them to be on the score sheet.

Inverness are perhaps one of the lesser known sides in the league but have held their own since being promoted back to the top league in 2010. They go into the game at Easter Road in good form as well, having won two of their last four games and Terry Butcher’s side look as if they may be on their way up the league.

Their star man is captain and striker Richie Foran (7/4 to score anytime) who has often carried them through difficult times and his ability to hold the ball up and bring his team-mates into play could prove priceless against Hibs.

One of the players he’ll be looking to bring into the game will be winger Andrew Shinnie who has a habit of scoring vital goals at important times and is understood to have been looked at by a number of English Premier League clubs ahead of the January transfer window.

However, despite Shinnie and Foran’s excellence, Hibs should just sneak this one and home advantage could make all the difference. The partnership between O’Connor and Griffiths is truly a class one at this level and they should see their side through, but it’ll be close (Hibernian 6/1 to win 1-0).

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Hoops to run rings round Caley

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon this week claimed he hated failure and would be disappointed if his side didn’t end the season with any silverware. That has no doubt heaped the pressure on his Hoops side ahead of their must-win trip to Inverness on Wednesday night.

Victory for the Bhoys will see them go two points clear at the top of the SPL with three matches to go. However, if recent performances are anything to go by Celtic will be as cool as a cucumber in the Highlands and roll over a Caley side that have hardly been pulling up trees recently. We preview what could be the SPL title decider.

Who would have thought that after the debacle that was Tony Mowbray last season that the relatively inexperienced Lennon would be able to step up and take the reigns as easily as he has. The former Celtic player made wholesale changes to his team in the summer, much like Mowbray had done the year before. But while Mowbray fell flat on his face Lennon has got his team humming.

After a bit of a sticky start to his time in charge – especially in Europe – Lennon has thrived as Celtic manager and his team are on course to wrestle the title away from Rangers for the first time in three seasons. The Hoops brand of attacking and attractive football has been a breath of fresh air after watching the Gers grind out the title in recent seasons. The signings of Emilio Izaguirre, Baram Kayal and Daniel Majstrovic have proven to be inspired. But the piece de resistance has been Kris Commons’ January arrival.  The Scotland international has 10 goals in 17 appearances for the Hoops and shouldn’t be overlooked to enhance his reputation again on Wednesday night.

Celtic head to the Highlands in probably their best run of form this season, avoiding defeat in their last 23 league matches. Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing of Dundee United was the perfect response to Rangers 5-0 mauling of Motherwell. While Inverness have written some unforgettable headlines against Celtic in the past recent results have gone the way of the men from Glasgow. Celtic have won six of the last eight meetings and the Hoops have already won twice at the Caledonian Stadium this season in the league and Scottish Cup.

Celtic are 3/10 to pick up three points on Wednesday, while Inverness are priced at 10/1 to win, with the draw on at 4/1.  A quick look at Caley’s home form this season will explain why they are such a big price to win on their own patch. Terry Butcher’s men have won just four out of 16 matches at home, with their last win in the Highlands way back at the start of March. Butcher slammed his team’s performance after a 1-0 lost at Aberdeen on Saturday and Caley’s season looks as though it is going to peter out.

While Inverness are unlikely to be hammered on their own patch they don’t have a strike force which will trouble Celtic’s rock solid defence. The Hoops have conceded just eight goals away from Parkhead in the league and look a good bet to keep a clean sheet, which is on at evens with Totesport. You can also backed Celtic to win to nil at 5/6.

Whatever happens on Wednesday night it will be a season-defining result we get from Inverness.

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Celtic wary of Caley threat

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Bet on the SPLSaturday’s SPL match predictions…..
All the news building up to this weekend’s Scottish Premier League games has covered who would officiate the matches given the referees’ strike, but it seems like the Scottish Football Association has managed to save the full card of top-flights games.

If everything does go ahead, there are five matches in the SPL on Saturday and Celtic can go top of the league if they beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Celtic Park. Terry Butcher’s side are the surprise package of the SPL so far this season and go into this daunting trip having won their last three games.

Celtic fell three points behind Rangers after they conceded an injury-time equaliser last weekend against Dundee United, and Neil Lennon cannot underestimate the challenge posed by an Inverness side, who have somehow not lost on their travels in almost a year.

With the knowledge they can put the pressure on their rivals and bounce back from last weekend’s disappointment, Celtic are priced at 2/9 to win and look likely to end Caley’s impressive away record.

It is a case of two teams looking to kick-start their season as rock-bottom Hamilton welcome another struggling side in St Mirren to New Douglas Park.

Their home ground has not been a happy place for Hamilton this season, they have not won in six in front of their home fans, but will be buoyed by the fact St Mirren have only tasted success once on the road and have conceded 15 goals in six games.

The distinct lack of form shown by both teams going into this game suggests it is likely to be a cagey affair, but St Mirren just have the edge and have improved enough in recent weeks to get the win – which is priced at 23/10.

Hibs and St Johnstone are only separated by goal difference in the SPL table and a win for either side could create some valuable breathing space between them and the wrong end of the league. Colin Calderwood has recovered from a poor start to guide Hibs to some impressive wins, but that came to an end when they were beaten 4-2 by Inverness last weekend.

St Johnstone’s win over beleaguered Aberdeen ended a run of four losses in a row, but they are struggling for away form and Hibs (20/21 to win the game) will be too strong for them, even without the suspended duo of Derek Riordan and Paul Hanlon.

Kilmarnock were only narrowly defeated by Rangers last weekend and put on an impressive showing, and they welcome an Aberdeen side that have lost their last five matches. Killie’s loss to the leaders was their first defeat in five games and the form gives the advantage squarely to the home side, so Kilmarnock – 3/4 to win the Rugby Park clash – look like piling more misery of Mark McGhee.

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